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The moment that he stepped off the ship and his feet touched down on the soil of Ayr he couldn't help but to want to run off instantly to fight with dragons. His family had seemed more as though they wanted to find a good cave first, one that they could set up camp in. It had taken a bit of pleading on his part, promising that he wouldn't wander off too far, before he was able to head out on his own to face off with the dragons. He wanted to fight with them, as many as he could find, defeat them, get their orbs, then in turn bring those orbs back to Lord Draco! Well, maybe. After getting that Diabi Orb for Lord Draco and the Dark Lady Soudana he didn't know if it would be as impactful to bring them Ayrala orbs. Perhaps these ones he'd just keep for himself and continue to train until he got orbs that were more worthwhile?

Overhead he heard a great roar, one that shook the ground under his feet, and he jerked his head skyward, watching the creatures that were circling around up there. Ayrala dragons for sure! His hands went for his sword instantly, taking hold of the hilt, and he drew it... then realized as he stood there that not only were they far out of his reach but he was pretty certain that they didn't even notice him, did they? Damn, now what? With the dragons so far away what was he to do? There was a moment where he considered trying to throw things or shout at them but given the wind that was racing passed he somehow doubted that his rocks or his voice would reach them.

He thought on it a moment then realized that he would probably have to follow them, not too far since he promised not too wander too far but at least until they came down to perch. At least then he'd have a better chance at landing a blow... or even being noticed. The fact that they didn't even give him any sort of acknowledgement was enough to annoy the Oblivionite boy. Merikh didn't really care for being ignored and that was exactly what these dragons were doing. It was something that he would remedy the very moment he was able to sink his new sword into them! He wasn't going to leave his sword left unblooded for long! If he did that would just make him look weak, not something he cared for in the least bit.

"Laugh it up, Ayrala dragons, I will have your orbs in my collection soon enough." He muttered to himself as he continued to follow them, waiting in a very eager manner for them to finally come down out of the sky to where he would better be able to fight with them. Waiting... waiting was the hard part, it always was. No matter what it was that he was doing at the time it was always waiting that grated on him. Still, like with everything else he really felt as though this would be worth that painful wait. He just had be patient, even if being patient was something he was still working on. It was yet another of those virtues that he was going to need if he meant to become a general as great as his grandfather had been. This was just training toward that ultimate goal.

One of the two dragons that were circling around overhead suddenly started to make lazy circles, ones that were bringing it ever downward. Soon enough the second one followed suit behind it. It was a sight that sent Merikh's heart racing as he realized that the battle he itched for was close at hand.

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The first Ayrala dragon to touch down on the ground was the one that Merikh set his sights on, feeling his heart thudding in his chest so hard that he was certain that the massive beast would hear it. His hands tightened their hold on his sword, his teeth gritted slightly, and he lunged forward from the rock that he'd ducked behind toward the dragon. His sword swung at the dragon in a wide arc, slice through the membrane of its wing deeply enough that it would impede it's attempts at flight. Merikh couldn't help but to be pleased over the hit, finding it to be a rather good one... that was until the dragon rounded on him, teeth barred, and he found himself suddenly swept up into a wind storm. It was the strangest sensation, much like taking flight, and then just as suddenly as it started it stopped... and he was falling.

That was a far more terrifying sensation, certain that the moment he hit the ground he was going to feel all of his bones shatter... instead of earth though his body hit the water and he went under. The sensation of being dragged under the water was shockingly cold, enough so that there was a moment where his muscles all locked up, causing him to sink. It was by the grace of the Dark Lady that he was able to push himself up toward the surface the moment that his feet touched down on the bottom. The water wasn't as deep as it could have been, something that allowed the boy to flail his way toward the shore, finding it to be a lot harder to swim when he was dragging his heavy weapon along with him.

Upon reaching dry land once more Merikh spat out a bunch of water along with a few colorful words that one his age probably shouldn't even know, let alone use, before turning his attention back to the dragons before him. His expression turned sour and he snapped, "That wasn't amusing at all, stupid lizard! You're lucky your kind vanish when you die or else I would make boots out of you!" His hair was a wreck, all of it having fall into his face, his clothing was just as soggy and was clinging to his form, probably ruined. First battle and his clothing was already a wrecked... at least it wasn't anything fancy he thought to himself. It would be far more annoying if he were wearing something nice. As it was he had thought ahead of time to wear some of his rougher clothing out to Ayr, the sort that he used during training with his mother. Still, it didn't make it any less aggravating.

Lifting his weapon up into the ready position he pointed it at the dragon with the wing wound. He'd change when he got back to camp, for now he still had these dragons to worry about. He would have to be more careful now that he knew what they were capable of magic wise, not wanting to get thrown again sine next time it might very well throw him to his death instead of just into the cold ocean. Alright, the one with the wing wound, that would be the one that he dealt with first, after that it would be its companion who was with it now, probably having landed after Merikh had gone under the water. They thought they had the upper hand because they outnumbered him but he would show them that he wasn't to be underestimated. No, he was an Oblvionite warrior, damn it! Taking a deep, steadying breath he prepared for his next charge.

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Dripping water as he went Merikh charged toward the Ayrala with the injured wing, dodging out of the way of it's snapping jaws so that he could deliver an upward arcing slash across the dragon's neck. It was a good hit though though not nearly enough to end the beast. These ones it would seem were a lot tougher then the Ysali that he'd faced in the past. In comparison to the Diabi though they were nothing, they didn't have that same terrifying and overwhelming aura that their darker and more terrifying cousins did, that was for sure. He actually felt that, despite how that battle had gone down, that he was better for it. He really felt as though facing off with that monster had helped him, made him stronger, made him immune in a way to the fear that other dragons could have caused him were he to meet up with them first. Now, instead of getting shaken by the Ayrala dragons he was able to better concentrate so that he could battle against them. Fighting without fear, all thanks to that idiot of a girl who had summoned the shadowy Diabi. As much as he hated it if he ever saw her again he might have to thank her for it... not that he planned on meeting up with her again or anything.

Dancing around the Ayrala with the wing injury he used the considerable bulk of the dragon to protect himself from the second one. Given that there were two of them he was out numbered but at the same time he was a lot smaller then they were, giving him a better chance at dodging. The two of them were forced to move around each other, as well as the rocky terrain, where as he could actually go under them, taking swipes at their vulnerable underbellies with his sword as he did so.

"I am going to get your orbs, dragons! It's only a matter of time!" He called out to them as he dodged out of the way of another attack, grinning a bit with one of them slammed its tail down close enough to him that the impact sent him flying back a ways, landing hard on his backside. Giving a little grunt he reminded himself that, while he felt not fear, that he should probably still try to feel a bit of humbleness. They were still a lot bigger and stronger then he was, something he had to keep in mind. While his attacks were leaving small wounds here and there, something that would add up with time, their attacks would crush him if he let them land. He had to be sure to be more careful to keep them from ending him in one well placed blow he thought to himself, taking a few quick steps back. He flicked his sword to the side, removing the blood that clung to it, before he prepared his next attack. Let's see... he would go for the throat. The first attack that he had landed was there, open and bloody, if he could hit that exact spot again he would likely cleave the beast's head from the rest of it and there was no living through that.

With that thought in mind he started to drift to the side, looking for a good opening so that he could go after the dragon's soft spot. He wanted to end this quickly after all so that he could go after the second dragon which, to this point, was devoid of any sort of wounds. A fresh dragon after he spent a lot of energy on the first one would be a challenge but he was up for it!

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Upon seeing the opening that he was looking for Merikh rushed forward, keeping low, dodging out of the way of the snapping jaws, slashing claws, and the swishing tails of the dragons that he was facing off against. His blade was lifted and it came down in a downward arc this time, slicing clean through the dragon's neck, and the moment that the head came free of the dragon there was a fount of blood. It was something that he should have been expecting, he'd been hit by Ysali blood in the past after all, but he wasn't so lucky as to remember. In fact he was so caught up in taking out the dragon that it was all that mattered to him... and once more he found himself painted red with blood.

He stood there a moment, cursing darkly to himself, before he heard a sound that caused him to go silent. The clinking sound of the dragon's orb against the rocky ground. He starred at it a moment, a look of pure delight appearing on his face despite the horrible mess he was covered in. The Ayrala orb, no, his Ayrala orb, it was right there for the taking! One of those thoughts that was interuppted as the second dragon came at him, snarling all the while. It would appear that the orb was going to have to wait he thought to himself, he couldn't reallly retreive it under the circumstances. How he ached to do just that but as it was he was going to have to deal with the second, 'fresh' dragon first before he was able to do so. The up side being that once he killed this dragon then he would have not one, but two orbs to collect! He just couldn't wait to take them back to camp, to show them off to his family. It would be the perfect way to show them that he was in fact going to go through with his vows. He was going to be powerful and uphold the family name!

Dodging to the side he was able to get out of the way of the dragon's jaws only to get hit full on in the chest by it's claws foot, something that sent him flying a good distance. He hit the ground, rolled, and lay still for a moment, dazed. The only upside to that being that the dragon was having a bit of a hard time following him. He'd half rolled under some rocks and he smelled of only dragon's blood, something that was all over the place given how Merikh had finished off the first of the Ayrala.

Scooting himself backwards so that he was completely under the overhanging rock he set to examining his chest, making a bit of a face when he felt the deep, bloody gouges there. Stupid beast, thinking to leave such marks on him he thought darkly to himself. As though he wanted Ayrala scars when he could have had cool Diabi scars he thought to himself. No, that wasn't what he should be worrying about right now. Right now he had to figure out how he was going to finish the thing off with these wounds. On top of that he would then have to gather his orbs and get back to camp with them as well, "What a huge pain right in my darkly colored backside." He muttered to himself, dragging in a shaky breath, let it out slowly, then crawled out from under the rock. Time to end this before he lost any more blood then he already had. He needed to get back to camp before the wounds got the better of him after all or else his mother and mom would have his hide!

(( Word Count: 627 ))

The rest of the battle against the Ayrala was a bit of a blur. The most of what he could recall was leaving the rocky hiding spot, charging forward toward the dragon that had been still searching for him, and then the battle had ensued. His sword swung a bit more wildly then he was sure that his mother would have liked, far different then she had trained him to do that was for certain. Still, he was running high on adrenaline at the time as well as the knowledge that if he passed out from blood loss before killing it that it would probably eat him. He'd be damned if he let some lowly Ayrala eat him when he'd escaped death at the claws of a far more impressive dragon.

The second dragon's death was less because of one grand strike as had been the case with the first one and instead it was a lot of smaller hits that diced the beast over time. Enough lost blood would take any creature down... which was the problem that Merikh himself was facing. Still, he had taken the dragons down and there was no way he'd be leaving his orbs behind! Staggering a couple steps forward he scooped up first one, then the other, tossing them into his pack, before he turned and headed back toward camp.

Upon his arrival he could only imagine how he looked. He was soaked with water and blood, the latter of which was a mix of his own and that the dragons had splashed him with with. His hair was in his face, his empty sockets were half closed, his clothing was shredded across his chest as was his flesh... and despite all of it he was feeling so smug. Probably because he'd done it all on his own this time. His mother wasn't there like with the Ysali battles, those mixed blood misfits weren't their like in the Diabi battle, nor was his mom there to finish them off. He'd done it all himself!

Giving a bit of a grin he said, "I got a couple Ayrala orbs!" Those words were followed promptly by him passing out as his family members raced over toward him.

(( Word Count: 370 ))